Tank closure means



y 1935. o. c. RITZ-WOLLER TANK CLOSURE MEANS Filed March 26, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l m l 1/1 1 7 v July 2, 1935 o. c. RlTZ-WOLLER TANK CLOSURE MEANS Filed March 26, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 object of my invention Patented July 2, 1935 2,006,748 TANK CLOSURE MEANS Oliver 0. Ritz-Woller, Chicago, Ill. Application March 26, 1932, Serial No. 601,310

My invention relates to 7 Claims.

closure cap assemblies and particularly to a form of device suitable for use in connection with th e usual filling opening of the gasoline tank on an automobile. It is the to provide a new and improved form and arrangement of parts by which a closure cap and held in operative member may be mounted closure position by means which are readily releasable by a moderately strong direct pull thereon and in which improved.

means is provided in addition to the operative mounting means for attaching the cap so as to prevent separation of the cap from the tank farther than is necessary to the tank by the use of the r convenient filling of usual hose. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an im proved attaching link of this type, preferably in the form of a yoke, and to provide improved means for permanently attaching the arms of the yoke to the cap member and to the tank so as to be effective for holding the cap when removed from the spout and so as to be readily slidable out of the way when the cap is returned to its closure position.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an arrangement of this type in a form comprising a foraminous member designed to be permanently secured in position on a tank so as normally to prevent the ins ertion of a siphoning tube effectively for an unwarranted withdrawal of the contents of the jects to provide tank. an improved form of foraminous It is one of my ohmember preferably of sheet metal and having an elongated deeply dished conformation so as to prevent splashing of the g asoline when delivered to the spout under pressure for passage through the screen into the tank.

It is another of my objects to provide improved means for securing such foraminous member in position by which the member may be easily and quickly mounted in position upon the ordinary type of filling spout by any purchaser having little if any mechanical ability, and which serves effectively when once pro perly applied to resist any expedients likely to be employed for removing the member in connection with any probable efiorts at petty thievery.

It is another object of prove devices of this type inafter pointed out. Th

my invention to imin sundry details heree preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawings and are hereinafter specifically describe d. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved screen member and cap connected together in unit form with spect to the screen;

the cap in raised position with re- Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through my improved device in position upon a tank, with the cap lowered into its closure position, being substantially a section at line 2-2 Fig.

of Fig; 4;

3 is a side view of my improved device in position on a tank with the cap member raised out of closure position for permitting the insertion of a filling hose as shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the screen member of my device in position on the filling spout of a tank, the view being substantially a section taken at line 6- of Fig. 6;

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sections through my improved device in position on a tank, taken substantially at the of Fig. 4;

lines 5--5 and 5-6 respectively Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the filling spout of a tank with my improved device in position thereon, partly broken away,

and showing a wrench about to be applied for rotating the device into operative gripping engagement with the spout; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the top ring of my improved screen device showing the method of connecting the cap thereto.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, [5 indicates a tank of any approved type having a filling spout I6 secured in position by wardly extending flange 11. the spout I8 is provided with an downwardly extending flange means of an out- At its upper end,

inwardly and I8 which is provided with notches l9 at opposite sides as is best shown in Fig. 4. As is best shown in Fig. 6, the lower edges of the opposite side portions of the flange l8 are obliquely disposed, the flange at each side slanting downwardly notches 19 toward the other notch, ing adjacent to said other notch in My improved screen device as Fig. 1 comprises a flat ring 2| to tached two separately formed sheet metal sections slightly from one of the and'terminata lug 20.

best shown in which are at- 22 of complementary form adapted together to provide an elongated cup shaped is clearly shown in Fig. 5, the flat structure. As ring 21 is provided at its inner edge with an annular flange 23 to which the upper ends of the sore en members 22 r plate :21 firmly upon the spout pass through the end of the spout. 3 Fig. '7, the plate 2| is provided at opposite sides with openings 28 therethrough into which the the spout It. the plate 2| and the screen member are rotated in.

jwall of the spout l6 and the 7 member, it will be appreciated that the pins are fprotected against ready'removal from the plate moval of the screen "sive supply of tools.

bottom face held are connected, preferably by welding. As is best shown in Fig. 6, each of the screen sections 22 is provided at its lower end with outwardly turned lugs 24, the lugs 24 of the two sections being oppositely disposed as is best shown in Fig. 1 for enabling the two sections to be connected securely by a welding operation. 7 Each of the sections 22 is formed of sheet metal having openings 25 there-- through at intervals along the screen both longitudinally and circumferentially thereof. As is also clearly shown in Fig. 1, the screen member is tapered toward its lower end.

At opposite sides, the foraminous sleeve comprising the screen member is provided with lugs 26 pressed outwardly from the sheet metal of the wall. The screen member is of such size as to be insertable readily into the spout |6 through the upper end thereof, the lugs 26 being adapted to the notches I9 in the flange |8 so as to permit the plate 2| to be brought to rest upon the'upper end of the spout IS, with gaskets 21 preferably interposed between the plate 2| and As is clearly shown in pins 29 of a wrench 33 are adapted to be inserted for applying power for giving the plate and the screen member a rotary movement with respect to The arrangement is such that when clockwisedirection in Fig. 4 for bringing thelugs carried by the screen member into engagement with the lugs 20 forming parts of the flange 48, such lugs 26 by their downward camming engagement with the flange serve to tighten the iii. The arrangement is suchthat the openings 28 through the plate 2|Iare located directly above the notches H! of the flange l8 when the lugs 26 reach the limit of their movement into engagement with the lugs 23 so that pins 3| driven' downwardly through the openings 28 and through the gaskets 21 engage the ends of the notches I9, as is shown in Fig. 4 so as to prevent reverse rotary movement of' the plate 2| and the screen. member with respect to the spoutlfi. The pins 3| are of such size as to fit tightly in the openings 28 when driven down flush with the top face of the plate 2| as shown in Fig. 5. Inasmuch as the pins 3| extend downwardly inside of the spout I6 and between the wall of thescreen 2i, and the screen member itself is afforded corresponding protection against removal from the spout. The construction is such that any purchaser having little mechanical ability can easily apply the device in operative position by a rotary movement by the use of the wrench 39 and can then'drive the pins 3| into position, making the device proof against any ordinary eflorts at rewithout the use of an'exten- For closing the upper-endof the filling spout I6 and the upper end of the screen member 22, I have provided a cap comprising a plate 32 having an upwardly extending annular flange 33 about its edge. gasket 34 of cork or other suitable material on its in position on the 'plate32 by means of lugs 35 struck from the plate at intervals thereabout, as is best shown in Fig. 1. The gasket 34 forms'the seat for the cap upon the ring2| comprising the upper end portion of the screen member. on the upper face of the plate clip comprising such base Such plate 32 is provided with a spout l6 by means of a spring clip comprising a base portion 38 and two arms grally with said base from a strip of spring metal, the arms 39 being provided'with turned back arm portions 43 also formed integrally but pressed into channel form for giving them the desired rigidity.

The arrangement is such that the lower ends of the arms 48 stand normally in such spaced relation toeach other as to be adapted to enter the opening through the ring 2| and the flange 23,

.the arms33 being adapted to yield inwardly toward each other from the position as shown in Fig. 3 to some such position as that shown in Fig.2 for permittigengagement of the clip with the screen member belowrthe flange 28, as is clearly shown in Eig. 2. ,The ,clip is mounted in position on the lower face of the plate 32 by means of metal discs 4| and secured in position at opposite faces of the plate 32 cooperating with a'plate 43 provided with lugs 44 at its corners, such lugs .44 extending through suitable openings in the discs 4| and .42 and being bent downwardly upon the face of the plate 4| for.

holding the parts clamped fixedly together. The

base portion 38 of the clip extendsbetween the disc 42 and the plate 43 so as to beheldini position to resist any rocking movement'ofgthe clip with respect to the plate 32, the clip together with the discs 4| and 42 and the plate being adapted to rotate freely with respect to the plate '32 upon an axis at right angles to said plate 32...

In the arrangement shown, a second spring abase portion 45 is also secured in position between the plate 43 and the disc 42,

portion 45 being disposed at right angles with respect to the base portion 38 of the first described clip. At its opposite, ends the base portion 45 is provided with downwardly 8X tending arms 43. formed integrally therewith, such arms 45 being in the arrangement shown of considerably greater length than the arms 39.

The lower ends of the arms 4.5..extend through slots 41 provided at opposite sides of the ring 1 2|, having their lower ends turnedat an angle to provide outwardly extending lugs 48, such lugs 43 being preferably given an arcuatc form for strengthening them substantially with respect to the "arms 46 and for preventing such lugs from cutting into the gaskets 21'with which the lugs contact when the cap is supported in its raised position as hereinafter described. In Fig. 8, I-have shown the metal 'of the ring 2| at one side of the slot 41 pushed upwardlywith respect to the adjacent portions of the plate for permitting the lug 48 at thatside to be inserted through the slot 41 after the arm 46 at the op posite side has been threaded through its slot 41.

After the arms 45 have been inserted through the slots 41 under conditions as shown in Fig. 8, the metal is hammered or pressed down into normal position as shownin Fig.6, whereupon the yoke comprising thebase 45 and the arms 45 is held permanently in position.

The slots 41 are of such size as to permit the arms 46 to slide readily therethrough} I The arms accordingly present no appreciable resistance to the movement of the cap into its normal 010- sure position as shownin Fig. 2, withfthe gasket 3 resting upon the ring 2|, in which position the cap is releasably held by the spring clip comprising the arms 40 as above described. Whenever it is desired to remove the cap from the spout, this can be readily accomplished by an upward pull directly thereon, the arms 46 sliding through the slots 41 freely until the lugs 48 stop the movement by engagement with the lower gasket 2'5. Each of the arms A6 is provided at its lower end portion with a notch 49 at each edge thereof adapted by engagement with the plate 2| at the end of the slot 4'? to hold the arm in raised position when the arms and the cap are tipped to one side in such raised position as that shown in Fig. 3.

While I prefer to employ substantially the form of construction as shown in my drawings and as above described, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to such form except so far as the claims may be so limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. A closure cap structure for the filling spout of a tank, comprising in combination an inwardly and downwardly turned flange on the upper end of the spout, a foraminous member having laterally extending lugs adapted to pass downwardly through notches in said flange and adapted by a rotary movement to engage the bottom edge of the flange for holding the member firmly in position on the spout, and a pin driven into position in said ioraminous member after it is secured in position on the spout adapted by engagement with one of said notches to prevent reverse rotary movement of the member, said pin in its operative position being protected by the spout from ready removal.

2. A closure cap structure for the filling spout of a tank, comprising in combination an inwardly and downwardly turned flange on the upper end of the spout, a ioraminous member in the form of a cup adapted when in position in the end of the spout to permit an ordinary filler hose to be inserted in the spout to permit the passage of gasoline through the member into the tank but to prevent the insertion of a siphoning tube into the tank, laterally extending lugs on said forarninous member insertable through notches at opposite sides of said flange and adapted by a rotary movement to engage said flange for holding the member in position in the spout, and a pin driven into position in said ioraminous member after it is secured in position by said lugs adapted by engagement with one of said notches in the flange to prevent reverse rotary movement of the ioraminous member, said pin in its operative posi tion being protected by the spout against ready removal.

3. In a device of the type described, the combination of a flat ring of sheet metal having an annular flange at its inner edge, and a screen in the form of an elongated sleeve tapering downwardly toward its lower end and formed of a plurality of complementary sections of perforated sheet metal rigidly secured to said ring at their upper ends and rigidly secured to each other by means of oppositely disposed lugs at their lower ends.

4. In a closure means for the filling spout or" a tank, the combination of a screen member in the form of a downwardly tapered sleeve of perforated sheet metal secured in said spout, a cap member, and two arms secured in spaced relation to each other on the inner face of said cap and held against angular movement with respect to the cap, said arms being slidably mounted in slots at opposite sides of the spout so as to extend between the wall of the spout and the wall of the sleeve and being at their lower end portions of such width with respect to the slots as to be capable when slid upwardly of being tipped edgewise into holding engagement with the slots for supporting the cap in raised position.

5. In a closure means for the filling spout of a tank, the combination of a screen member in the form of a downwardly tapered sleeve of perforated sheet metal secured in said spout, a cap member, two arms secured in spaced relationto each other and secured on the inner face of said cap so as to permit rotation of the cap with respect thereto about an axis parallel with said arms, a transversely disposed plate portion at the upper end of said spout having slots therethrough at opposite sides within which said arms are slidably and pivotally mounted so as to extend between the wall or" the spout and the wall of the sleeve, and outwardly turned lugs on the ends of said arms serving to prevent removal of the arms from the slots.

6. In a closure means for the filling spout of a tank, the combination of a screen member in the form of a downwardly tapered sleeve of perforated sheet metal secured in said spout, a cap member, two arms secured in spaced relation to each other on the inner iace'of said cap and held against angular movement with respect to the cap, a gasket on the upper end of said spout, a plate rigidly mounted on said gasket and having slots therethrough at opposite sides within which said arms are slidably and pivotally mounted so as to extend between the wall of the spout and the wall of the sleeve, and outwardly turned lugs on the ends of said arms adapted by engagement with said gasket to limit upward movement of the arms through the slots, said lugs being rounded upwardly at their intermediate portions for strengthening the lugs and for affording rolling engagement with said gasket.

'7. In a closure means for the filling spout of a tank, the combination of a screen member in the form of a downwardly tapered sleeve of perforated sheet metal secured in said spout, a cap member, two arms secured in spaced relation to each other and secured on the inner face of said cap so as to permit rotation of the cap with respect thereto about an axis parallel with said arms, a transversely disposed plate portion at the upper end of said spout having slots therethrough at opposite sides within which said arms are slidably and pivotally mounted so as to extend between the wall of the spout and the wall of the sleeve, and outwardly turned lugs on the ends of said arms serving to prevent removal of the arms from the slots, said arms being notched at their lower end portions for permitting the arms to tip to one side in said slots and arranged so that the arms by engagement of the notches with said slotted plate portion support the cap in raised position.

OLIVER C. RITZ-WOLLER. 

